Washington?

[highland3]

Anyone ever stop in Washington on the way to or from WDW? I was there a few years ago and would love to take my kids. Any tips? Less expensive places to stay in the region?

 

[Gigi22]

Washington is very worthwhile--DH and I used to go there regularly on business trips. If you are going in the summer, it can get hot and humid (not unlike some summer days in Ottawa). Hotels in Washington can be quite pricy, summer is their peak season--you should try for something in the outskirts. Washington has a very good subway system, so I would suggest you take the subway into town to sightsee (parking in certain areas is rare and expensive). The Smithsonian is huge, the buildings are quite spread out, and the admission is completely free. There's a fair bit of security at all public buildings.
I suggest going to Arlington too--you can tour Robert E. Lee's house when you are there.

 

[highland3]

Agreed! When I was there solo I spent hours at Arlington, then walked across the bridge to the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Memorial. Then the Whitehouse and the Smithsonian. When it closed I walked over to the Capital building. I took the subway back to the hotel. Feet were hurting. Stayed in Crystal City, but the company was paying. How far out is Manassas?

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

We lived there for 10 years before moving here and during college I was a concierge in DC, so ask away.

Yes, it is nasty hot and humid as it was built on a swamp.

Silver Spring and Bethesda, MD can have some cheaper hotel options, just make sure you are close to a metro station so you do not have to drive, get lost, and pay for parking.

Arlington, VA could also work, but harder to drive around and farther from beltway around DC.

I am happy to help, just ask.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

Agreed! When I was there solo I spent hours at Arlington, then walked across the bridge to the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Memorial. Then the Whitehouse and the Smithsonian. When it closed I walked over to the Capital building. I took the subway back to the hotel. Feet were hurting. Stayed in Crystal City, but the company was paying. How far out is Manassas?

Manasses is very, very, very far away. Factor in traffic and it is well over an hour into the city. And no mass transit option other than a commuter bus.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

I Thought you meant Washington State--My Ha Ha--- But it is my home state. Anyway back to your question. We did a summer trip one year driving around in our RV from Washington State to cities across the US. I decided at one point that I-95 had crazier drivers then I-5 on the west coast so I stopped in Fredericksburg, found a wonderful RV park that we made our home point while we visited the surrounding cities. What I want to tell you is that there is a commuter train that picks up in Fredericksburg that is second stop to DC so you will get a seat and is first pick-up on way home so again you get a seat. ( having a seat is a good thing). It takes an hour for trip but ------ta-da-- the second to last stop going to DC is at the Smithsonian. There are 5 out of the 7 main buildings right in front of you. The US Parks Dept. is in charge of area. Very clean, security every where, and there were food stands along every corner. We had a great time-- wish we would have had more days to visit DC. We did take a tour bus one Day that took us around the area -- well worth the $ --no fighting traffice, parking, and the guide knew his stuff. Have a great time.

PS Fredericksburg has a couple of great walking tours that are well worth the effort. Paid guide tours that again are well worth the $.

Patty

 

[ottawamom]

We visited Washington for a few days two years ago. We stayed at the Holiday Inn just south of the Mall. It was a 5 minute walk to the Air and Space museum. The rate was way better than anything to the north side of the Mall. Only downside was the lack of restaurants in the area. Check it out it may be just what you are looking for.

 

[Gigi22]

If it is the Holiday Inn on the Hill (there was a Marriott just opposite that was a lot more expensive) then you need to watch where you go on foot. When we stayed there, there was a facility for the homeless a couple of blocks away. We didn't have any problems, but we were quite careful.
We also stayed at the Capitol Hill Suites (in two converted apartment buildings), which is close by some of the less glamorous buildings that belong to the Library of Congress, and also close to a subway. It has been a number of years since we stayed there, so I am not going to recommend the Suites to you--their upkeep was peculiar.

 

[ottawamom]

It was the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol. The Department of Education is directly across the street from it. We walked everywhere until 10:00 at night. Never felt unsafe in any way. There is so much security around the Mall area now and this area around the hotel has security for the Government buildings. We got a "Go Smithsonian" rate at the hotel so it was very reasonable.

 

[motherof4]

We were there last summer, so much to see and do, we only had 3 days and it wasn't long enough! The coolest thing we did was taking the elevator to the top of the Washington Monument! We camped at a park just outside of the city called Cherry Hill Park, and loved it there! The public bus has a stop right in the park and takes you to the metro, so easy! I think they rented cabins as well!

 

[motherof4]

Just looked it up for you the website is www.cherryhillpark.com, and they rent cottages, trailers and cabins/yurts or you can camp! Very fun park, and very informative about the area when you are there!

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

It was the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol. The Department of Education is directly across the street from it. We walked everywhere until 10:00 at night. Never felt unsafe in any way. There is so much security around the Mall area now and this area around the hotel has security for the Government buildings. We got a "Go Smithsonian" rate at the hotel so it was very reasonable.

That is a very safe neighborhood, just not residential which is why there are few dinner options. My husband's office was around the corner from there. And you are correct about them having some awesome deals. It was renovated in 2008, I believe.

 

[c&m]

We travelled to Washington DC with our DDs. It was one of our most economical trips because the entertainment (the Smithsonian museums) were free. We booked our 4* hotel using Priceline's Name Your Own Price option, and got the Hyatt in downtown for $80/night. This is the Hyatt where the subway station is just downstairs of the hotel - very convenient. It was one of our best trips ever as a family and instilled a love of museums in our DDs.

 

[disneyred]

We visited Washington for a few days two years ago. We stayed at the Holiday Inn just south of the Mall. It was a 5 minute walk to the Air and Space museum. The rate was way better than anything to the north side of the Mall. Only downside was the lack of restaurants in the area. Check it out it may be just what you are looking for.

this sounds like a good place to stay ..walking to the air and space museum... when you say south of the Mall... is this a great shopping Mall?

another question comes to mind... is there any great shopping around washington DC

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

this sounds like a good place to stay ..walking to the air and space museum... when you say south of the Mall... is this a great shopping Mall?

another question comes to mind... is there any great shopping around washington DC

The "Mall" is the area in DC ended by the US Capital and the Washington Monument and lined with the Smithsonian museums. No shopping except gift shops.

There is a nice mall on the Metro called Pentagon City in Arlington, VA and a fantastic mall called Tyson's Corner in Tyson's Corner, VA but not on the metro, is is just of 495 (the beltway).

 

[Nahanni]

Any recommendations for 7 & 4 year olds? We generally visit science centers and children's museums - not much interest in "viewing" exhibits.

 

[c&m]

My DDs really enjoyed the Spy Museum - it was really a lot of fun to go through. Also, my DDs enjoyed the Museum of Natural History. Lots of dinosaurs.